Summary

E = mc(2)

Few equations have entered our consciousness with the speed and impact of Einstein's cosmos-changing formula. From the moment he published his revolutionary papers on his theory of relativity, humankind's view of the world and the universe changed forever, the latest phase of the modern age was born, and our horizons shifted.

We may know that Einstein was the epitome of genius, but how many of us know what his theory really means and what its realistic implications are? "Einstein And Relativity" presents a brilliant distillation of Einstein's life and work, his work's historical and scientific context, and offers a truly accessible explanation of the concept that shaped the twentieth century.

Author Notes

Paul Strathern has a Ph.D. in Mathematics and Philosophy and lectures at Kingston University.

Strathern is the author of several novels, including A Season in Abyssinia, which won a Somerset Maugham prize, and Mendeleyev's Dream: The Quest for the Elements. He has also published two series of books, one on philosophy: Philosophers in 90 Minutes, and another on science, but is best known for his 39 short biographies of philosophers and scientists

Booklist Review

In these latest entries in the Big Idea series, Strathern examines Albert Einstein, whose theory of relativity changed thinking on space and time and launched the nuclear age, and Alan Turing, whose work on computability led to the development of the computer. Each book provides groundwork for its subject, particularly the social and scientific contexts of the time. Einstein and Turing were contemporaries and were at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, at the same time. Einstein was an eccentric, famous for being absent-minded. Strathern touches on Einstein's personal life: a child born out of wedlock, a troubled marriage and divorce, and a later marriage to a cousin. Einstein's "exceptional talent lay in his ability to think through the most complex formulae and problems to the fundamental principles underlying them." Einstein saw others go on to develop quantum physics, based on his theory; he used his fame to fight against anti-Semitism and nuclear weapons. Turing was an enigmatic character, somewhat antisocial and individualistic. Strathern describes him as "way ahead of himself, neglecting the basics." He developed a concept for a calculating machine that became the prototype for the digital computer. He used his talents during World War II to decode German messages. His open homosexuality led to scandal, a trial on indecency charges, and hormone treatments that ruined his health. As with the other books in the series, Strathern simplifies complex theories and provides insight into the character of his fascinating subjects. --Vanessa Bush